Boosting the Amper and altering the frequency

[Maxouishere]

Hello,

What is the type number of the zener diode?
It more looks like an 400 mW version.

Bertus

Hi. It should be 4.7V ~1W. (According to seller)

Edit_1: 4V7 + 85 C + BZX is written on it.
Edit_2: I think this is the datasheet: https://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/26335/VISHAY/BZX85C4V7.html

 

[bertus]

Hello,

It is strange that the zener burns.
There must be a to high current, but I can not see from where.
You could boost the zener with an extra transistor and resistor as in the following link:
https://sound-au.com/appnotes/an007.htm

Bertus

 

[Maxouishere]

Hello,

It is strange that the zener burns.
There must be a to high current, but I can not see from where.
You could boost the zener with an extra transistor and resistor as in the following link:
https://sound-au.com/appnotes/an007.htm

Bertus

Thanks, I will look at that.

Earlier today, I have tried to measure the current on my battery. I plugged the multimeter cable to 10A slot. Within 1 second multimeter cables became insanely hot (only cables became hot) and multimeter couldn't even measure the value while stating that It is higher than 10A. Maybe there is something wrong with the battery?

As a temporary solution: Would the problem be solved If I power the arduino via USB port from my computer/powerbank and connect the battery only to voltage regulator without the zener diode? It seems to me that voltage regulator sucks high current and that current also flows through zener diode. I am probably wrong since I am new at electronics but I can't see any other possible issue with the setup.

 

[bertus]

Hello,

How did you connect the multimeter for current measurement?
For current measurement the multimeter should be in series with the device from wich the current should be measured.

Bertus

 

[Maxouishere]

Hello,

How did you connect the multimeter for current measurement?
For current measurement the multimeter should be in series with the device from wich the current should be measured.

Bertus

Ohh. It was parallel. This explains the instant over-heating then.

 

[Harald Kapp]

The power consumption of the zener diode will be approx. P = 4.7 V × 0.1 A = 0.47 W. A 1 W zener should work, but a 400 mW zener wouldn't.

 

[Maxouishere]

The power consumption of the zener diode will be approx. P = 4.7 V × 0.1 A = 0.47 W. A 1 W zener should work, but a 400 mW zener wouldn't.

Hi. Did you check my schematic (post #39 or #40)? I am assuming It looks OK since you haven't said anything. And According to manual my zener diode was 1.3 W (https://pdf1.alldatasheet.com/datasheet-pdf/view/26335/VISHAY/BZX85C4V7.html)

 

[Maxouishere]

It more looks like an 400 mW version.

Bertus

Hi. I can't tell by its look If It is 1W or not. They write it either in title or description. I purchase according to that information. Does this look like 1W ?

 

[bertus]

Hello,

It could well be an 1 Watt zener diode:
1 Watt zener diode

Where did you buy the zener?
On ebay , alibaba , aliexpress and amazon you can not be sure to get a genuine part.
Many fakes are around on those sites.

Bertus

 

[Harald Kapp]

Did you check my schematic

The one in post #39 is rather neat and looks o.k.

 

[Maxouishere]

Hello,

It could well be an 1 Watt zener diode:
1 Watt zener diode

Where did you buy the zener?
On ebay , alibaba , aliexpress and amazon you can not be sure to get a genuine part.
Many fakes are around on those sites.

Bertus

Hi. I bought it from a top rated seller on Turkish website "Hepsiburada". And paid 10x of the average value, thinking It is good quality. (Brand: Feriot)
(https://www.hepsiburada.com/feriot-4v7-1w-zener-diyot-p-HBCV00000TWXMZ)

But It is probably not a genuine part as you said. Therefore, I just returned it and bought from another seller (bought 10x just in case) and now I'm waiting for it to arrive. (Brand: Sentech) I also bought couple of spare TIP122 because I might need higher output current. I couldn't get this transistor before because It was out of stock.

I hope this time It works. Third time's the charm.

 

[Maxouishere]

@Harald Kapp Hello after a long time

I almost completed the setup. I connected the device to 5x frames. I measure 25V and 0.1A on each frame. Thanks to your help I made it this far. I will complete and try it in 5 days on my beehive and will post the results. I have a question.

According to my arduino code, pin 8 of Arduino is at HIGH (5V) for 3 sec and then at LOW (0V) for 3 sec. I measured from pin8 without connecting anything and saw that there is no problem. Then I connected transistor, voltage regulator and everything just like the picture in post #38 (will add the same picture below) but I have measured 25V for 3 sec and 18V for 3 sec. It doesn't go to 0V. It should have 25V for 3 sec and 0V for 3sec. It wasn't like this before. Do you think it is faulty voltage regulator? What might be the problem?

Also in multimeter I cannot read voltage at 200mA slot. It shows "1. " on screen, meaning that it exceeds the value but when I connect the cable to 10A slot it shows "0.1" on the screen which is strange because it is lower than 200mA I thought they might be related. Normally It shows 145.3mA as in the picture below.

Thanks in advance.

It was like this before: https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/929757506266353684/977605944471064596/IMG_1385.jpg

 

[Harald Kapp]

Trying to measure the voltage as you do with your setup is not a good method: The resistance of the multimeter is very high and any stray resistance of your setup can influence the measurement. Put a resistor (e.g. 1 kΩ or 10 kΩ - whatever you have at hand) between the collector of the transistor and "+ out" of the voltage regulator. The measure the voltage across the resistor (essentially the same connection as your multimeter is set up now).

Also in multimeter I cannot read voltage at 200mA slot.

What are you trying to do? 200 mA ia a current measuring range, not for voltage. When you put your multimeter in current measuring mode while it is connected as shown in your schematic, it will be more or less a short circuit, the current will be very high (limited by the voltage regulator) and the multimeter will show overload (indicated by "1.").
When you want to measure current, you need a load to limit the current. Again a resistor can be used, but this time in series to the multimeter, not in parallel as for the voltage measurement.

 

[Maxouishere]

Trying to measure the voltage as you do with your setup is not a good method: The resistance of the multimeter is very high and any stray resistance of your setup can influence the measurement. Put a resistor (e.g. 1 kΩ or 10 kΩ - whatever you have at hand) between the collector of the transistor and "+ out" of the voltage regulator. The measure the voltage across the resistor (essentially the same connection as your multimeter is set up now).

I will do this and will post the results. Thanks.

What are you trying to do? 200 mA ia a current measuring range, not for voltage.

Sorry, I meant Amper but typed voltage by mistake.

the current will be very high (limited by the voltage regulator) and the multimeter will show overload (indicated by "1.").

On 200mA range it shows overload but when I put it on 10A range it shows 0.1A (100mA), which is less than 200mA. That's what confused me.

On top of that I read 0.2V and no current with TIP122. Months ago I read on multimeter 5A and 25V with the same setup. I think there is a faulty component but I couldn't figure out what's wrong.

 

[Harald Kapp]

I think there is a faulty component

The transistor or the voltage regulator may be defect due to overcurrent when trying to measure amps without current limiting resistor.
Check each of them separately.

 

[Maxouishere]

Put a resistor (e.g. 1 kΩ or 10 kΩ - whatever you have at hand) between the collector of the transistor and "+ out" of the voltage regulator.

Just to be sure, It is like the schematic below right?
They are advertised to be good up to 2W. I assume this would be OK.

By the way, I used 35 Ω/m resistence wires on the frames that this setup will be connected to. (~~ 2 meters)

 

[Harald Kapp]

Looks. O.K., although only 1 resistor would be enough.

 

[Maxouishere]

The transistor or the voltage regulator may be defect due to overcurrent when trying to measure amps without current limiting resistor.
Check each of them separately.

Hello. Does this mean the transistor is dead?

 

[Harald Kapp]

Obviously, From emitter to base you'd expect also a value between 600 mV ... 800 mV. Showing overload means there is no active pn junction here.

 

[Maxouishere]

Obviously, From emitter to base you'd expect also a value between 600 mV ... 800 mV. Showing overload means there is no active pn junction here.

Replacing the transistor fixed the issue for voltage readings. I read on multimeter: 25V for 3sec then 0V for 3sec on loop. So far so good.

But there is still an issue with current. on 200mA slot, I read overload ("1. ") for 3 sec and 0A for 3sec. When I change it to 10A slot, I read 0.01A for 3 sec and 0A for 3 sec. I even replaced the voltage regulator just in case, but still the same.

What could be the problem here? I know I should recalculate the required resistance value from base of the transistor to pin8 of arduino but that doesn't justify the abnormal readings on multimeter. I replaced the transistor with BC238 for testing purposes, until my new transistor arrives. Please refer to below schematic for the current setup.